Tools for Transplanting Conifers. 5 



wide at the top and any desired depth depending upon the length 

 of the roots of the seedhngs to be transplanted. For a planting 

 board 6 feet, or 6 feet 3 inches long the trencher must be set into 

 the bed three times in the same line. A 36 inch trencher has been 

 used, but it requires two men to handle it while one man can 

 handle a 26 inch implement all day long. This implement leaves 

 a trench with smooth sides, and can be used very satisfactorily in 

 almost any nursery soil. 



Planting Board. — The planting board used in connection with 

 the trencher consists of a 5 inch board 6 feet 3 inches long with 

 handle attached in the middle. On the lower edge a piece i-^ 

 inches wide is nailed flush with the back of the first board, the 

 front edge of this piece should be beveled to about -^ inch in 

 thickness. Into this edge 50 notches are sawed i^ inches apart, 

 one notch falling 4 inch from either end of the board. These 

 notches are slightly wider at the bottom than double the saw 

 kerf, or about ^ inch, and should be made smooth with emery 

 cloth or a sharp knife and rounded at the outer edge to admit of 

 threading the trees into them easily. The parts between the 

 notches should be strengthened by driving one or two i\ inch 

 brads through them. The inner parts of the notches are flush 

 with the face of the vertical board, so that when the trees are 

 threaded into the notches they lie flat against the face of this 5 

 inch board ; a slat placed over them and fastened by two buttons 

 holds the seedlings in place while the board is being carried from 

 the threading table to the trench. A loop or binding of tin over 

 one end of the board forms a pocket into which the end of the 

 slat is placed before being buttoned down. This helps hold it and 

 prevents it from being slipped past the end of the board when 

 placed on the trees. The slat fits loosely enough so that it does 

 not crush the stems of the seedlings when it is buttoned down. 

 The buttons are made with a slight bevel so that when turned only 

 partially over the slat they do not hold it so closely as when turned 

 at right angles to it. This allows for handling both large and 

 small stemmed seedlings with the same degree of efficiency. 



When planting, the operator keeps the notches toward him and 

 lowers the board into the trench with a back and forward move- 

 ment lengthwise of the trench so that the roots will not catch 

 on the sides, but will be extended naturally toward the bottom 



